Settling device for bag filling machines



Dec. 31, 1963 E. M. LAU

SETTLING DEVICE FOR BAG FILLING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17,1961 Dec. 31, 1963 M. LAU

SETTLING DEVICE FOR BAG FILLING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17,1961 w 5 M; 4 04 w j t. i 2 my; a 6 v 14 J .m w 7 5 E- M LAU SETTLINGDEVICE FOR BAG FILLING MACHINES Dec. 31, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledJan; 17, 1961 'median plane.

United States Patent 3,115,905 SETTLING DEVICE FOR BAG FILLING MACHINESErwin M. Lau, Dalton, 111., assignor to Black Products Co., Chicago,111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 83,224Claims. (Cl. 14176) This invention relates to a bag settling device forbag filling machines. More particularly, the invention is directed toimprovements in the saddle type of settler in Which the settling actionis obtained by vibrating a saddle on which the bag rests when it isfilled.

It is customary in some types of bags filling machines to include asaddle which partially supports the bag and contents, the saddle beingmounted on a saddle hanger which, although supported from the scalemechanism, nevertheless requires the use of a connecting link with theframework to take up the various lateral forces which are developed. Asaddle type of settler is oftentimes in the form of a unitary devicewhich can be mounted on the saddle hangers in place of the usual saddle.

An object of my invention is to provide an arrangement which eliminatesthe need of the connecting link for the saddle hanger, which connectinglink is objectionable from a sensitivity viewpoint.

Another objection to a saddle type settling device is that, beingsuspended from the scale mechanism, the vibra-tion incident to itsoperation is transmitted to the bearing points with the result that theyare sometimes disengaged or damaged. The term bearing points includesthe knife edge or fulcrum and the other pivot points or spacer points ofthe scale mechanism. These are sensitive parts, and such bearing pointsare always arranged in pairs, one to the left and one to the right ofthe vertical As a result, if the settling device is of asymmetricaldesign, one set of bearing points will carry less weight than theothers, and it is the unweighted set of bearing points which is thussubject to disengagement or damage.

Another object of my invention is to provide a settling device which issubstantially symmetrical with respect to the vertical median plane sothat the two sets of bearing points can be evenly weighted.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a bag settling devicewhich is substantially balanced with respect to the transverse verticalplane of the saddle hanger on which it is mounted to the end that unduestresses on the scale mechanism may be avoided. This aspect of myinvention is particularly adapted for use in connection with a floatingframe type of construction, as shown in my earlier patents, Nos.2,733,040 and 2,936,994 granted January 31, 1956, and May 17, 1960,respectively.

Another objection to the saddle type of settling device arises from thepowdered material that dribbles from the spout after removal of the bag.In the usual device, the actuating mechanism is located directly underthe spout, with the result that the bearings and pivoted connectionsthereof become clogged, thereby curtailing the 'life and efiiciency ofthe actuating mechanism.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved settlerconstruction which avoids the use of pivoted connections as much aspossible, and in which the bearings and other points which are subjectto clogging are offset rearwardly from the saddles themselves where theywill not be affected by the dribble.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent as thedescription proceeds.

With reference now to the drawings in which like reference numeralsdesignate like par-ts:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a bag filling machineembodying my invention;

.FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the settling device in which an emptybag is indicated by broken lines;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the bag in its filledcondition so that it rests on the saddle so that the contents can besettled thereby;

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view of the eccentric;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the eccentric;

FIG. 7 is a detailed elevation of the counterweight, and FIG. 8 is adiagram showing the forces acting on the floating frame.

In FIG. 1 the reference numeral 10 designates generally a bag fillingmachine on which is mounted a settling device 16. The bag fillingmachine includes a spout 11 which is connected by means of a flexibletube 12 with the hopper or conditioning chamber (not shown) of the bagfilling machine. The spout 11 is mounted on and supported by a floatingframe 13 which is supported by side brackets 14 in such a manner as toprovide for movement in a vertical direction only. The brackets aresupported by the framework 15 of the bag filling machine 10.

Depending from the floating frame 13 is the saddle hanger in the form ofa pair of spaced hanger rails .17 on which the settling device 16 is\adjustably mounted. The hanger rails are rigidly connected to thefloating frame by lugs 18 which may be welded to the floating frame '13.The hanger rails are maintained in laterally spaced position by means oftwo or more spacers 19.

The base of the settling device consists of two plates, a motor supportplate 20 and a shaft support plate 21, which are disposed on oppositesides of the hanger rails 17 and which are drawn up to engage the railsin clamping relationship by one or more bolts 22. Thus, the elevation ofthe settling device 16 may be shifted to accommodate bags 50 ofdifferent size.

The hanger device also includes a motor 23 suitably supported from themotor support plate 20, and saddle means comprising two saddles 24 and25 which are suitably supported from the shaft support 21. Each saddleis in the form of a shell type casting providing a shaped upper surfacewhich is suitable for engaging the bottom of the filled bag 50, thesaddles being spaced from each other so as to accommodate the seam ofthe bag as shown in FIG. 3.

The settling of the bag contents is accomplished by vibrating thesaddles 24 and 25 at a high rate of speed, preferably in opposed phaserelationship. The driving means for each saddle are identical to eachother, and therefore the same reference numerals are applied to theidentical parts of each.

The shaft support plate 21 includes a sleeve 26 in which a shaft 27 ismounted so that it extends outwardly from both ends of the sleeve. Rocklevers 28 are pivotally mounted on opposite ends of the shafts, the rocklevers including suitable bearings 34 for this purpose. Suitableretainer discs 51 keep the rock levers 28 from slipping off the oppositeends of the shaft 27 and also serve as bearing seals. T'he saddle 2 4 isconnected to the front end of the rock lever 28 by means of a leafspring 29, the upper end of which is suitably secured to a T-shapedbracket 30 which depends from the saddle 24. Stabilizer springs 31extend between the T-bnacket 30 and the shaft support plate 21, and aresuitably secured at both ends. For instance, as shown in FIG. 1, achannel 32 provides means by which both the stabilizer spring 31 and theleaf spring 29 maybe firmly clamped to the T-bracket 30.

Brackets 33 formed integrally with the shaft support plate 21 providemeans for clamping the rear ends of the stabilizer springs to thesupport plate. Thus the leaf spring 29 and the stabilizer springs 31cooperate with each other to provide means for supporting the saddle 24in its upright position, and at the same time, they permit theoscillating motion of the rock lever 28 to be transmitted to the saddle.The object of this arrangement is to avoid the use of pivoted or slidingconnections which are subject to the clogging which would otherwiseoccur when the bag filling machine is: used in connection with powderedmaterials.

The means for oscillating the rock levers 28 in opposed phaserelationship comprise two eccentrics 35 which are mounted at theopposite ends of the armature shaft 36 of the motor 23. As shown in FIG.4, the armature shaft 36 extends outwardly from both ends of the motor.A hearing yoke 37 surrounds each eccentric 35 and carries at its lowerend a bifurcated lug 38. A leaf spring 3? is embraced by the bifurcatedlug 38 and secured thereto by screws 4-0, as shown in FIG. 1, thusproviding a firm clamping engagement of the upper spring end whichavoids fatigue and prolongs spring life. The lower end of the leafspring 39 is secured to the rear end of the rock lever 28 by a similarclamping device which includes a clamping block 41 and screws 42, and asimilar arrangement is provided at the front end of the rock lever 28with respect to the leaf spring 29.

(Thus, oscillation of the bearing yoke 37 is transmitted to the saddle24 by means of the rock lever 28 and the two leaf springs 39 and 29without the use of any pivoted connections.

Counterweig-hting means are provided for each eccentric 35 so as topermit high speed operation without damage to the motor bearings.

in this connection the eccentric 35, as shown in FIG. 5, is providedwith a shaft portion 43 which is concentric with the armature shaft 36,the concentric shaft portion 43 being provided with a keyway 44. Acounterweight 45, shown in FIG. 7 is mounted on the concentric shaftportion 43, and is also provided with a keyway 46 so that the parts 43and 45 may be suitably keyed to each other to provide a unitarycounterweighted eccentric assembly. The eccentric 35 is also providedwith a keyway 47 so that the two assemblies may be keyed to the armatureshaft and maintained in the desired 180 positions. Thus each eccentric35 is individually counterbalanced which permits the two eccentrics tobe mounted at the opposite ends of the armature shaft so as to providethe desired symmetrical construction.

-In the usual scale mechanism, a connecting link is required between thesaddle hangers and the framework which interferes with the sensitivityof the scale mechanism.

According to my invention, the saddle hangers are rigidly connected tothe floating frame and form a part thereof with the result that no suchconnecting link is required which fact results in a scale sensitivitywhich is as fine as if the setting device were not present. This is dueto the balanced construction in which the motor is located rearwardly ofthe hangers to offset the weight of the saddles, and it may alsopartially offset the weight of the bag contents, thus reducing themagnitude of the horizontal forces acting on the floating frame 13.These forces, represented by vectors 57 and 58 in FIG. 8, are due to thelever arm effect of the bag and also would be substantially increased bythe mounting of an unbalanced settling device on the hangers 17.

The floating frame construction is described in detail in myaforementioned earlier patents to which reference is hereby made. Asshown in FIG. 2, the floating frame 13 comprises a generally H-shapedstructure, the side edges of which are confined bet-ween bracket rails52 which form a portion of the bracket '14. The floating frame carriespads 53 which engage the scale beam 54 by means of disc points 55, andthus the force is transmitted to the scale beam 54 which may be pivotedon a fulcrum 56, also mounted in the brackets 14 behind the floatingframe 13.

FIG. 8 shows the manner in which lateral forces are taken up by thefloating frame and without resorting to the use of a connecting link.

To summarize the operation, the motor, when energized, will causevibration of each one of the saddles 24 and 25. As the bag becomesfilled, more and more of the weight of the bag contents is taken up bythe saddles, as contrasted with the spout 11, with the result that thevibratory motion of the saddles will be transmitted to the bag contentsto settle the same and to provide a greater density of packed material.

The eccentrics 35 may be an'gularly located on the shaft at 180 fromeach other in order to provide opposed phase relationship of the saddlevibration, or they may be so located as to provide a phase relationshipof any other type, such as zero degrees, or This considerable latitudein the angular location of the eccentrics is permitted by the use of aseparate counterweight 45 for each.

According to a practical embodiment of my invention, the total weight ofthe settler device is 80 pounds, of which 53 pounds is represented bythe motor and that portion of the settler which is located rearwardly ofthe hangers 17, and of which 27 pounds is represented by that portion ofthe settler device which is located forwardly of the hangers. Thus, therear portion of the settler device completely offsets the weight of thefront portion, even when the greater lever arm of the front portion istaken into account, so that the center of gravity of the settling deviceis located rearwardly of the hangers 17 and rearwardly of the plane ofthe floating frame 13. The hangers are in substantially the sametransverse vertical plane as the floating frame, although it is notnecessary that they be exactly aligned; for instance, as shown in FIG.1, the center line plane of the hangers 17 is offset forwardly of thecenter line plane of the floating frame 13 by about oneahalf inch.

In the arrangement shown, the weight of motor 23 more than offsets theweight of the saddles so that it also partially offsets the weight ofthe bag contents, with the result that the maximum load on the bearingpoints is less than if no settler were used.

The driving mechanism, which includes the motor 23, the eccentric 35 andthe bearing yokes 37, are all located to the rear of the hanger rails 17where they will not become clogged by dribble from the spout 11. Theleaf spring connections 29 and 39 eliminate the need for cranks andpivoted connections, with the result that dribble and dust will notimpair the operation.

The settler is symmetrical with respect to the longitudi nal verticalplane through the hanger rails 17 and the floating frame 13 with theresult that its weight is evenly distributed between the two sets ofbearing points of the scale mechanism, and the individual counterweights45 result in comparatively little unbalanced vibration which woulddamage the scale mechanism or interfere with its accuracy.

For instance, with an eccentricity of M3 the throw of the eccentrics 35will be A and the amplitude of the saddle vibration may be the same, andwith a motor speed of 1800 rpm. 1 have found that the sensitivity of thescale mechanism is not affected.

Although only a preferred embodiment of my invention has been shown anddescribed herein, it will be understood that various modifications andchanges may be made in the construction shown Without departing from thespirit of my invention as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bag settling device adapted to be supported from the saddle hangerof a bag filling machine comprising base means adapted for mounting onsaid hanger, a motor mounted on said base means rearwardly of saidhanger, a saddle mounted on said base means forwardly of said hanger, ashaft mounted on said base means, a rock lever mounted on said shaft,eccentric means driven by said motor, a leaf spring connecting the rearend of the rock lever with said eccentric means for oscillating thesame, and a leaf spring connecting the front end of said rock lever withsaid saddle for transmitting the oscillations of said rock lever to saidsaddle, whereby the vibratory movement of said saddle will betransmitted to the contents of a bag which is resting on said saddle.

2. A bag settling device as claimed in claim 1 in which said base meanscomprises a pair of support plates adapted to be disposed on either sideof said hanger, and clamping means for drawing up said support platesinto clamping engagement with said hanger whereby the elevation of saidbag settling device with respect to said hanger may be adjusted byshifting the position of said clamping means.

3. A bag settling device adapted to be supported from a saddle hanger ofa bag filling machine comprising base means adapted for mounting on saidhanger, a motor mounted on said base means rearwardly of said hanger, apair of saddles mounted side by side on said base means forwardly ofsaid hanger, a shaft mounted on said base means, a pair of rock leversmounted on said shaft, a pair of eccentric means driven by said motor, aleaf spring connecting the rear end of each rock lever with one of saideccentric means for oscillating the same, and a leaf spring connectingthe front end of each rock lever with one of said saddles fortransmitting the oscillations of said rock lever to said saddle.

4. A bag settling device as claimed in claim 3 in which said motor ismounted symmetrically with respect to said pair of saddles, and has anarmature shaft extending from both ends thereof, one eccentric meansbeing located at each end of the motor, and in which said eccentricmeans each comprises an eccentric mounted on said armature shaft andyoke means surrounding same, whereby a settling device is pr ovided inwhich the parts may be symmetrically arranged with respect to saidhanger means.

5. -A bag settling device as claimed in claim 3 in which said motor ismounted symmetrically with respect to said pair of saddles, and has anarmature shaft extending from both ends thereof, and in which eacheccentric means comprises an eccentric member mounted at one end of saidarmature shaft, 21 counterweight located adjacent to said eccentric, andyoke means surrounding said eccentric, whereby each eccentric means isseparately counterbalanced to permit the location of said eccentricmeans at opposite ends of said armature shaft.

6. A bag settling device as claimed in claim 5 in which said eccentricmember includes an extended portion which is concentric with saidarmature shaft, said counterweight being mounted on said extendedportion and keyed thereto so as to provide a unitary counterweightedeccentric assembly.

7. A bag settling device as claimed in claim 5 in which said eccentricmembers are offset from each other so that said saddles will be vibratedin an out of phase relationship.

8. In a bag filling machine which includes scale mechanism, thecombination of a settling device comprising a saddle hanger mounted onand extending downwardly from said scale mechanism, a saddle supportedfrom said hanger at a point forwardly thereof and beneath the spout ofsaid bag filling machine, a motor supported from said hanger rearwardlyof the same, eccentric means driven by said motor, a shaft supportedfrom said hanger, a rock lever mounted on said shaft, and resilientdrive means connecting the rear end of said rock lever with saideccentric means and connecting the front end of said rock lever withsaid saddle, whereby said motor is located rearwardiy of said hanger andoffsets the weight of said saddle.

9. in a bag filling machine of the floating frame type which includes afloating frame, the combination of a saddle hanger rigidly secured toand extending downwardly from said floating frame, a saddle supportedfrom said hanger at a point forwardly thereof and beneath the spout ofsaid bag filling machine, a motor supported fnom said hanger rearwardlyof the same, eccentric means driven by said motor, a shaft supportedfrom said hanger, a rock lever mounted on said shaft, and drive meansconnecting the rear end of said rock lever with said eccentric means andconnecting the front end of said rock lever with said saddle forvibrating same, whereby the center of gravity of said settling device islocated rearwardly of the plane of said floating frame and tends tooffset the weight of the contents of a bag Which is resting on saidsaddle.

10. A bag filling machine of the floating frame type which includes asupporting framework, a floating frame assembly mounted on saidframework and comprising a floating frame and a saddle hanger rigidlysecured thereto and extending downwardly therefrom, said floating framebeing supported from said framework and constituting the sole connectionbetween said saddle hanger and said framework, and a bag settling devicemounted on said saddle hanger and including a saddle for supporting abag during the filling operation, a motor, and vibration producing meansconnecting said motor and said saddle, said saddle and said motor beingdisposed on opposite sides of said saddle hanger whereby the weight ofsaid motor partially offsets the weight of the contents of a bag whichis resting on said saddle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,205,010 Hartman et a1 June 18, 1940 2,602,626 Vredenburg July 8, 1952FOREIGN PATENTS 936,255 Germany Dec. 7, 1955

9. IN A BAG FILLING MACHINE OF THE FLOATING FRAME TYPE WHICH INCLUDES AFLOATING FRAME, THE COMBINATION OF A SADDLE HANGER RIGIDLY SECURED TOAND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID FLOATING FRAME, A SADDLE SUPPORTEDFROM SAID HANGER AT A POINT FORWARDLY THEREOF AND BENEATH THE SPOUT OFSAID BAG FILLING MACHINE, A MOTOR SUPPORTED FROM SAID HANGER REARWARDLYOF THE SAME, ECCENTRIC MEANS DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR, A SHAFT SUPPORTEDFROM SAID HANGER, A ROCK LEVER MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, AND DRIVE MEANSCONNECTING THE REAR END OF SAID ROCK LEVER WITH SAID ECCENTRIC MEANS ANDCONNECTING THE FRONT END OF SAID ROCK LEVER WITH SAID SADDLE FORVIBRATING SAME, WHEREBY THE CENTER OF GRAVITY OF SAID SETTLING DEVICE ISLOCATED REARWARDLY OF THE PLANE OF SAID FLOATING FRAME AND TENDS TOOFFSET THE WEIGHT OF THE CONTENTS OF A BAG WHICH IS RESTING ON SAIDSADDLE.